People: New vet team manager for BPEX

BPEX announced the appointment of Martin Smith as the new veterinary team manager. He is from a farming family and worked in large animal practice gaining experience with pig and poultry clients.

He then moved on to work with the Royal Veterinary Collage working as a distance learning author helping develop the Intensive Livestock Health and Production distance learning course in the areas of livestock production.

Welcoming him, BPEX head of technical Andrew Knowles said: "I am delighted Martin is joining the team. He is passionate about working with vet practices to help producers. His work with the RVC means he will be bringing with him new skills and new ideas about communication."

"He is also going to hit the ground running because, as soon as he starts, he is off to the USA for a conference and update on Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea to help keep the industry on the front foot in terms of this potentially awful disease. He will also be going to Canada where the industry seems to have PEDv under control."

"I would like to thank Derek Armstrong, former head of research and development for BPEX, for all the hard work he put in for the. Derek is not leaving the business entirely as he has taken up a role with DairyCo."

"This means the pig industry will have an opportunity to benefit from Derek's immense knowledge and experience. While with BPEX and before that the MLC, he was instrumental in helping the industry tackle PMWS, set up the salmonella scheme and was also involved in Real Welfare. Latterly he has been heavily involved in the work on PEDv. During his time in BPEX he also took on the presidency of the Pig Veterinary Society."

"I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Helen Clarke whose role included helping set up the Pig Health Improvement Project and then developing it over a period of five years."